May 31, 2012

Come Dine’s Top 5 Asian restaurants in Cape Town

Fazielah Williams has lived in and loved her Mother City since birth. Having lived all over the Peninsula during her childhood, she now calls the picturesque City Bowl home and likes nothing more than watching the sun set over Table Bay from the window of her apartment.

A lover of the arts and proud Cape Town fanatic, Fazielah began her writing career by spending many hours as a child conjuring fantastical stories that featured independent heroines from faraway lands who saved the Prince instead. This Capetonian princess has enjoyed stints as a magical arts PRO and TV publicist before finding her calling as a travel writer.

When not waxing lyrical about the Fairest Cape’s most loved attractions and activities and embarking on unexpected adventures, Fazielah can usually be found taking in a show at one of the City’s fabulous theatres.

With a variety of flavours to suit most palates, Asian cooking is a firm favourite, and we have found a few restaurants serving the tastiest Asian dishes in Cape Town.

Below is a list of Come Dine's top five Asian restaurants in Cape Town. They aren't ranked in any order since they cater for a variety of tastes.

Galbi

Galbi is a Korean restaurant located in the city centre, just off Long Street. The owners, Coenraad Groenewald and Louis Smit, opened Galbi's doors in May 2011 and introduced the authentic Korean barbecue (known as "Galbi" in Korea) to Cape Town, adding their own South African twist to the menu.

In the centre of each table is a braai (barbeque), where diners can cook their raw, marinated cuts of meat. However, Galbi also offers cooked meals prepared by Korean chefs, for those who cannot envision cooking their own food in a restaurant. It offers an assortment of set menus to tempt your taste buds, including an authentic Korean menu, vegetarian options and a spin on the Korean concept in the form of a set game menu, which includes fillets of warthog, ostrich and kudu loin.

Kitima at The Kronendal

At South Africa's most prestigious food awards, the 2011 Eat out DStv Food Network Restaurant Awards, Kitima was awarded Best Asian Restaurant 2011, which means it offers not only excellent food, but superb service as well.

Located at Kronendal, the first farm established in Hout Bay in the 1670s, it has four rooms, including the Bangkok, Boat, Temple and VIP room, all of which are beautifully appointed. The VIP room is by far the most intimate and spectacular.

The menu is expansive and everything sounds delicious. Kitima's signature dish, Kitima duck à l’orange, should definitely be on the list of main dishes at the table. If duck is not to your taste, the menu includes a number of curry, noodle, and seafood dishes as alternates.

Take a scenic drive to Hout Bay and see why owners Kitima Sukonpongpao and Eed and Tim Harbich have made this venue a grand landmark for fine Asian cuisine in the Cape.

Indochine at Delaire Graff Estate

Indochine, situated at the Delaire Graff Lodge and Spa, offers modern Asian fusion-inspired cuisine presented with contemporary flair and delicacy.

A simple menu, using produce sourced mainly from organic farms and their on-site greenhouse, caters for every need without complicating your options. The restaurant has a deck which offers spectacular views. We would recommend eating lunch at Indochine during a wine-tasting tour of the Stellenbosch area, however dinner is an equally memorable experience.

Yindees

Yindees Thai Restaurant has been in existence for years and is a landmark in Cape Town. The restaurant is authentically Thai, with sunken tables and cushions for floor seating, as well as conventional table seating for those who aren't partial to sitting at floor level.

We recommend the tom yum goong soup to start and the superb seared tuna steak as a main. The waiters are very friendly and efficient and also offer good advice based on what is fresh in the kitchen.

Yindees is definitely a local restaurant that tourists sometimes miss out on, but if you're visiting Cape Town make sure to stop by this local spot to enjoy an authentic taste of Thailand.

Maharajah

The Maharajah Indian Restaurant is run by Kuben Naidoo whose family has owned the restaurant for two generations. The Maharajah is split into four rooms and although the decor is sparse, there are great views of Table Mountain, so make sure you book a table by the window.

The chicken wing starter is worth a try, as are their delicious potato samoosas. The prawn or lamb curry is perfect as a main, as is the intensely flavoured lamb rogan josh. Portions are large and offer good value for money. If you are looking for the best Indian food in Cape Town, you must try Maharajah.